by Tom Kelley, for Hawthorne Racecourse

Stickney, IL — Racing Secretary Peter Hanley has announced an ambitious late closing series that should give trotters and pacers at all classes a chance to race for added money with his Have Em Ready To Roll Late Closing Series which is scheduled to kick off in the second week of action once live racing returns to the Stickney oval on May 6.

All of these late closers will carry an entry fee of $200 and nominations will close on April 15.

Standardbred racing is scheduled to begin on Kentucky Derby weekend (Friday, May 6) and will be conducted through Sept. 25.

Hawthorne will also be working with our downstate horsemen to help conduct qualifiers during the month of April at the State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Ill., so that horses will be sharp and ready to go for the opening weekend of action. More information on those qualifiers will be posted as soon as it becomes available. Horsemen can also contact Mike Brink in Springfield for information regarding qualifiers during the month of March in Springfield as well.

Another reminder that nominations for the ICF 3-year-old stakes season are due by March 15 while nominations for the 2-year-old stakes season are due by April 15. The stakes schedule and nomination forms can be found on the Hawthorne website.

Stall applications are also available at www.hawthorneracecourse.com. Applications should be sent to Jim Miller, c/o Hawthorne Race Course, 3501 S. Laramie Ave., Cicero, IL 60804 or they can be faxed to his attention at 708.780.3727. Applications are due no later than April 1. Horsemen are reminded that there is a “straw only” policy in all barns at Hawthorne. No shavings or sawdust will be allowed.